Abstract: A wide slit nozzle having a slit as a discharge opening. The thickness of a lateral end part is set smaller than the thickness at a lateral center part. The thickness of the lateral center part is fixed. The thickness of the lateral end part changes linearly from opposite lateral ends of the lateral center part to the opposite lateral ends of the slit. Coating material is discharged from the slit while applied with pressure, so that the coating material is coated while expanded wider than the width of the slit. The coating material is discharged at 7 liter per minute, and a coating width of a first example is 100 mm, for example. A thickness increase of the overlapped part is +25% even when a width or an overlapped margin z of the overlapped part is 10 mm or 20 mm.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup device using a CCD solid-state image pickup device, a vertical smear is reduced so as not to be influenced by a dark current such as a white blemish of the CCD solid-state image pickup device. A dark current variation in the vertical direction of a display screen of signals which are read out before effective pixels of a photosensitive surface of the solid-state image pickup device and obtained from a vertical light-shielded image is corrected. A vertical smear correction signal is calculated from each vertical pixel signal of the vertical light-shielded image and subtracted from image signals which are outputted from the effective pixels of the photosensitive surface. A represent-value signal is calculated from the signals outputted from the solid-state image pickup device and subtracted from the image signals outputted from the effective pixels of the photosensitive surface.

Abstract: An optical disk for recording stereoscopic videos and high-quality video signals and a system for reproducing the videos and signals from the optical disk are made compatible with the conventional video reproducing system. A reproducing device which is used for reproducing stereoscopic videos and high-quality videos obtains stereoscopic video or high-quality videos by reproducing both first and second interleaved blocks on the optical disk in which first and second video signals are alternately recorded on the left and right sides by dividing the first and second video signals into frame groups of one GOP or more and a reproducing device which is not used for reproducing the stereoscopic videos and high-quality videos obtains ordinary videos by only reproducing either the first or second interleaved block by jumping tracks.

Abstract: A multilayer inductor having a uniformly improved direct current superposition property and an increased inductance value is disclosed. The multilayer inductor contains a laminate of a plurality of first insulating layers and a plurality of conductive layers, and the conductive layers and through hole conductors are connected to form a helical coil in the laminate. A second insulating layer which has a magnetic permeability lower than those of the first insulating layers is disposed such that it crosses an inner magnetic path of the helical coil, and a margin of the second insulating layer overlaps with the conductive layer in the stacking direction and is in contact with the conductive layer in the overlap portion. The magnetic flux density in the laminate is likely to be highest in the overlap portion, and thus, the highest-density magnetic flux passes through the second insulating layer inevitably, whereby the direct current superposition property can be uniformly improved.

Abstract: In a backup device, when a piece of software installed on a computer is detected by a detection unit, a transmission unit transmits information for specifying the piece of software. When a reception unit in a server receives this information, a transmission unit acquires from a storage destination information holding unit information about a storage destination in which data is stored, the date being obtained by execution, in the computer, of the piece of software specified by this information, and transmits the information. When a reception unit in the backup device receives this information about a storage destination, a recording control unit records in a recording medium the data stored in the storage destination indicated by this information.

Abstract: A video frame is input to a spectrum analyzer, which transforms the frame from a spatial domain into a frequency domain. A resolution determiner analyzes the output of the spectrum analyzer, thereby selecting a resolution appropriate for the video frame. Then, a resolution converter converts a resolution of the video frame into the resolution selected by the resolution determiner. Thereafter, the video frame is subjected to a coding process by block divider, DCT transformer, quantizer and variable-length coder so as to be output as a coded bit stream. By coding the input video frame at a resolution corresponding to the high-frequency component in the frame, a video of higher quality can be obtained with the bit rate reduced.

Abstract: To provide a power switchover apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which can perform power switchover smoothly. Target follow-up control is started, and when the engine speed reaches a clutch-in speed of a starter clutch, the input power shaft of a continuously variable transmission starts rotation. The speed of the output power shaft also begins to gradually rise in response to the starting of rotation. The engine speed then reaches a target, and transmission ratio raising control of raising the transmission ratio based on the difference between the motor speed of a drive shaft and the speed of a driven side pulley is started. The motor speed Nm of the drive motor and the speed of the driven side power transmission pulley then become equal to each other and the one-way clutch is placed into a connected state. Consequently, the transmission ratio raising control is stopped and normal control is entered.

Abstract: A wide slit nozzle having a slit as a discharge opening. The thickness of a lateral end part is set smaller than the thickness at a lateral center part. The thickness of the lateral center part is fixed. The thickness of the lateral end part changes linearly from opposite lateral ends of the lateral center part to the opposite lateral ends of the slit. Coating material is discharged from the slit while applied with pressure, so that the coating material is coated while expanded wider than the width of the slit. The coating material is discharged at 7 liter per minute, and a coating width of a first example is 100 mm, for example. A thickness increase of the overlapped part is +25% even when a width or an overlapped margin z of the overlapped part is 10 mm or 20 mm.

Abstract: To record both of two digital broadcasts and/or a digital broadcast and an analog broadcast to be delivered by mutually different broadcasting systems even if they are scheduled to be transmitted in mutually overlapping time frames. A data processing apparatus receives a first broadcast signal and a second broadcast signal from mutually different broadcasting systems to record programs, represented by these broadcast signals, on at least one storage medium. The processor includes: a first receiving section to receive the first broadcast signal; a second receiving section to receive the second broadcast signal; a first stream processing section for outputting a stream of a first program represented by the first broadcast signal; a second stream processing section for outputting a stream of a second program represented by the second broadcast signal; and a stream control section that receives the first and second streams and writes the streams on the at least one storage medium in parallel with each other.

Abstract: An optical disk for recording more than one system stream containing audio data and video data. The audio data and video data of the plural system streams are recorded to the optical disk, and are interleaved such that the difference between the input start times of the video data and audio data to the video buffer in the video decoder and the audio buffer in the audio decoder is less than the reproduction time of the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer plus one audio frame.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention includes a clutch device including a first friction clutch disposed between an input member and an output member, a second friction clutch adapted to go into a power cut-off state upon exertion thereon of a clutch releasing force, and a torque cam mechanism disposed between the first and second friction clutches. In an embodiment, the invention can decrease the number of clutch parts, simplify the clutch structure, and make the clutch device compact. First and second friction clutches can be constructed with a clutch outer common to both, and a torque cam mechanism is disposed within the clutch outer and between the first and second friction clutches.

Abstract: A rubber compound for solid golf balls which includes (A) a base rubber, (B) a filler, (C) an organic peroxide, and (D) a co-crosslinking agent coated with a coating rubber in which the ratio of the co-crosslinking agent to the coating rubber is from 100/1 to 100/20 by weight. A solid golf ball with good flight performance and uniform quality which is formed from the rubber compound. The rubber compound contains a co-crosslinking agent (a metal salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid) finely dispersed therein and also permits processing with good workability.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission, a hydraulic pump is linked to a hydraulic motor by a hydraulic closed circuit to change the capacity of the hydraulic motor so as to change the speed of a motorcycle continuously. A clutch device comprising a clutch valve for connecting and disconnecting a high pressure side oil passage and a low pressure side oil passage constituting the hydraulic closed circuit. A governor mechanism for generating governor force corresponding to the input rotation speed of the hydraulic pump and applying this governor force in the closing direction of the clutch valve. A spring for giving urging force in the opening direction of the clutch valve, and a buffer mechanism having a variable oil chamber and an oil pool chamber for easing the opening and closing movements of the clutch valve activated according to the governor force and the urging force.

Abstract: A recording/playback apparatus for a DVD on which a VOB and a management file of the VOB are recorded. When detecting a failure in the management file, the recording/playback apparatus changes the state of the DVD to: (a) a first state in which reading/writing of the DVD is available; (b) a second state in which reading/writing of the DVD is available but the VOB cannot be played back; or (c) a read only state, in accordance with the detected failure. When the state of the DVD changes to the second state, the recording/playback apparatus writes a new VOB onto the DVD. When the state of the DVD changes to the read only state, the recording/playback apparatus plays back the VOB recorded on the DVD.

Abstract: A system stream contiguous reproduction apparatus to which are input one or more system streams interleaving at least moving picture data and audio data, and system stream connection information includes a system clock STC generator for producing the system clock that is used as the system stream reproduction reference clock. The system stream contiguous reproduction apparatus further includes one or more signal processing decoders that operate referenced to the system clock STC, decoder buffers for temporarily storing the system stream data transferred to the corresponding signal processing decoders, and STC selectors for selecting a system clock STC referenced by the signal processing decoders when decoding the first system stream, and another system clock STC referenced by the signal processing decoders when decoding a second system stream reproduced contiguously to the first system stream.

Abstract: There are provided a pigment-containing coloring material stably dispersible in a high concentration in various organic solvents, and a process for producing the same. The production process of the coloring material is characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a solution comprising (1) a soluble pigment precursor which is convertible into an insoluble pigment, (2) a solvent capable of dissolving the soluble pigment precursor therein, and (3) a stabilizing agent comprising an organic compound having a structure or a functional group capable of stabilizing the dispersibility of the insolubilized pigment in the solvent; and converting said soluble pigment precursor into an insoluble pigment to obtain the coloring material containing the insolubilized pigment dispersed stably in the solvent.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission, a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor are connected through a hydraulic closed circuit and the capacity of the hydraulic motor is varied to vary the speed continuously. The transmission has a valve spool in a spool hole made in a transmission output shaft which rotatably holds the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor; and the transmission output shaft incorporates outer branch oil paths which are connected with an outer passage and open to the spool hole, and an inner branch oil path which is connected with an inner passage and open to the spool hole.

Abstract: A reproduction equipment converts an identification code of the reproduction equipment into a plurality of signal sequences using a correspondence table and embeds the obtained plurality of signal sequences in AV signals as a digital watermark. A reproduction equipment specifying equipment compares correlation values of the AV signals, containing the digital watermark embedded therein with all signal sequences contained in a correspondence table. A comparison of the correlation values with a previously set threshold value determines the embedded signal sequences and the identification code of the reproduction equipment which may be extracted.

Abstract: A digital recording apparatus that obtains a digital stream including a plurality of frames, while recording the digital stream on a digital recording medium. This apparatus obtains, during recording, an instruction for a procedure in which a recording area is changed to another recording area which is not necessarily continuos with the recording area. When the instruction is obtained, the apparatus executes the procedure only when the number of frames which are recorded in the recording area is a predetermined number or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides alternatives to traditional drug and surgical treatments for IBD. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as IBD in humans using TGF-? therapy. The compositions of the present invention provide vectors containing TGF-? under the control of an inducible promoter. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides regulated plasmid constructs capable of inducing TGF-? production. In preferred embodiments, the methods of the present invention utilize the vectors described for assaying the expression of a gene in a cell. In some preferred embodiments, the methods of the present invention utilize the administration of TGF-? containing vectors to treat IBD. In alternative preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the induction of high-level interleukin (e.g., IL-10) production.